On Novermber 22, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Benazir Ahmed announced stern actions against pedestrians who crossed the roads without using an underpass or foot over-bridge.
The DMP planned to place a mobile court, which ranges from the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel junction to the Farmgate police box, for seven days starting from November 25. In this regard, the DMP has been engaging in an awareness campaign. If a jaywalker crosses that zone by not opting for an underpass and/or foot over-bridge he/she will eventually be penalised and will be have to serve a jail term of six months, along with paying a fine of Tk200.
To be honest, it is a pragmatic step towards prohibiting passersby from crossing busy roads by taking enormous risks. Now, it is crucial to find out the exact factors which trigger them to act in this way. In my opinion, there are several possible causes which can lead to such actions.
The first factor is that foot over-bridges are not always available. Additionally, only a few underpasses are available throughout our cities, which is well below the required number.
The second factor is that people are reluctant about climbing the steps of a foot over-bridge, which are at a height of almost 30 feet from our roads. The height is okay, as it takes into consideration the numerous double-decker buses and cargo-haulers which ply our roads and streets; but people, especially kids and seniors, face difficulties in walking up to that height.
The third factor is that the underpasses and foot over-bridges are often occupied by miscreants and junkies. For this specific reason, people tend to opt out of these means, especially after dusk.
To persuade jaywalkers into using foot over-bridges and underpasses, a two-fold method of motivation is required. One positive way of motivation can include the construction of more underpasses and foot over-bridges on the busier parts of our cities, installing more escalators (like the Banani over-bridge) and making sure over-bridges and underpasses are free from the clutches of muggers and dope-heads.
These could provide some much needed motivation into getting rid of people’s habits of crossing roads through moving vehicles. The negative method of motivation is of course by way of punishment and penalties. A jail provision is supererogatory, but it gets people scared, which ultimately prevents them from obeying the rules of traffic willingly.
Apart from the provision of jail-time and a fine, the DMP can borrow certain ideas from the army, who employed the “murga” punishment, or ear-holding punishment (which usually consists of doing 20 squats), for violating traffic rules, during the army-led regime.
The ideal combination of both positive and negative methods of motivating jaywalkers into using foot-over-bridges and underpasses will most definitely improve our traffic-control systems.
Finally, people should be aware that they should extend their hands to the authorities concerned in order to maintain proper traffic rules in our cities. People from all sectors should be invested in developing our traffic infrastructure.
The DMP commissioner has urged corporate houses to contribute financially in constructing more underpasses and installing escalators into foot over-bridges. Additionally, a group of law enforcers should be made available in the foot over-bridges and underpasses in order to ensure the safety of people from any unwanted incidents. An all-out effort is the demand of the day in ensuring proper and well-planned traffic management in the urban areas of Bangladesh.